President Duterte: Congress must understand, I need more time for martial law

In a speech, President Rodrigo
Duterte is saying he needs more ‎than the 60-day limit to resolve the Marawi
City crisis and that Congress must keep an open mind about it.

“It’s beyond 60 days, Congress must
understand that I may need more time,” President Duterte said.

“There’s Jolo, which is also
bursting. And on top of that, I am facing three fronts. I have terrorism in
Mindanao; I have the drug problem; and itong mga ordinary, kidnap-for-ransom
and everything,” he added.

”The earlier we attain the equanimity
of the community, the stability, I’d be the first to clamor for the lifting of
martial law,” he said.

“I’m very sad. Marami akong sundalong
patay, marami akong pulis na patay. Hindi lang nila nire-record kung ilan. Wala
akong nakita na newspaper na, ‘the following died today’. ‎I lose about three,
four. It keeps on increasing everyday for as long as that war rages on. I am
one of those who are really hurrying it up,” he added.

Duterte called his critics “fools and
stupid” for claiming that he did not not consult the military and the police.

“You do not declare martial law
without asking the soldiers and the policemen. Kaya nga nila nasabi na
nag-declare ako na walang permiso sa military pati pulis. With more reason
ngayon, tanungin ko ang military at pulis, ‘Are we okay? Because if we are,
then let’s lift it immediately’. But for as long as the military says, ‘Sir,
hindi pa talaga kaya’,” he said.